AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE vs Intel Core i7-950

Comparative analysis of AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE and Intel Core i7-950 processors for all known characteristics in the following categories: Essentials, Performance, Memory, Compatibility, Security & Reliability, Advanced Technologies, Virtualization. Benchmark processor performance analysis: PassMark - Single thread mark, PassMark - CPU mark, Geekbench 4 - Single Core, Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s), 3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score, CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s), CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s).

 

Differences

Reasons to consider the AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE

  • CPU is newer: launch date 1 year(s) 7 month(s) later
  • Processor is unlocked, an unlocked multiplier allows for easier overclocking
  • Around 8% higher clock speed: 3.6 GHz vs 3.33 GHz
  • 2x more L1 cache, more data can be stored in the L1 cache for quick access later
  • 2x more L2 cache, more data can be stored in the L2 cache for quick access later
  • Around 4% lower typical power consumption: 125 Watt vs 130 Watt
  • 2.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s): 2.787 vs 1.028
Specifications (specs)
Launch date January 2011 vs June 2009
Unlocked Unlocked vs Locked
Maximum frequency 3.6 GHz vs 3.33 GHz
L1 cache 512 KB vs 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 2 MB vs 256 KB (per core)
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 125 Watt vs 130 Watt
Benchmarks
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 2.787 vs 1.028

Reasons to consider the Intel Core i7-950

  • 4 more threads: 8 vs 4
  • Around 10% higher maximum core temperature: 67.9°C vs 62°C
  • Around 33% more L3 cache; more data can be stored in the L3 cache for quick access later
  • Around 2% better performance in PassMark - Single thread mark: 1380 vs 1350
  • Around 27% better performance in PassMark - CPU mark: 3222 vs 2536
  • Around 12% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Single Core: 535 vs 477
  • Around 32% better performance in Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core: 2092 vs 1584
  • 4.7x better performance in CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s): 61.244 vs 13.167
Specifications (specs)
Number of threads 8 vs 4
Maximum core temperature 67.9°C vs 62°C
L3 cache 8192 KB (shared) vs 6 MB
Benchmarks
PassMark - Single thread mark 1380 vs 1350
PassMark - CPU mark 3222 vs 2536
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 535 vs 477
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 2092 vs 1584
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 61.244 vs 13.167

Compare benchmarks

CPU 1: AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE
CPU 2: Intel Core i7-950

PassMark - Single thread mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
1350
1380
PassMark - CPU mark
CPU 1
CPU 2
2536
3222
Geekbench 4 - Single Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
477
535
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core
CPU 1
CPU 2
1584
2092
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
2.787
1.028
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s)
CPU 1
CPU 2
13.167
61.244
Name AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE Intel Core i7-950
PassMark - Single thread mark 1350 1380
PassMark - CPU mark 2536 3222
Geekbench 4 - Single Core 477 535
Geekbench 4 - Multi-Core 1584 2092
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Face Detection (mPixels/s) 2.787 1.028
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Ocean Surface Simulation (Frames/s) 13.167 61.244
3DMark Fire Strike - Physics Score 2502
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - T-Rex (Frames/s) 0.376
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Video Composition (Frames/s) 1.712
CompuBench 1.5 Desktop - Bitcoin Mining (mHash/s) 5.077

Compare specifications (specs)

AMD Phenom II X4 975 BE Intel Core i7-950

Essentials

Architecture codename Deneb Bloomfield
Family AMD Phenom
Launch date January 2011 June 2009
OPN PIB HDZ975FBGMBOX
OPN Tray HDZ975FBK4DGM
Place in performance rating 2635 2639
Series AMD Phenom II X4 Black Legacy Intel® Core™ Processors
Vertical segment Desktop Desktop
Launch price (MSRP) $290
Price now $329.99
Processor Number i7-950
Status Discontinued
Value for money (0-100) 4.96

Performance

64 bit support
Base frequency 3.6 GHz 3.06 GHz
Die size 258 mm 263 mm2
L1 cache 512 KB 64 KB (per core)
L2 cache 2 MB 256 KB (per core)
L3 cache 6 MB 8192 KB (shared)
Manufacturing process technology 45 nm SOI 45 nm
Maximum core temperature 62°C 67.9°C
Maximum frequency 3.6 GHz 3.33 GHz
Number of cores 4 4
Number of threads 4 8
Transistor count 758 million 731 million
Unlocked
Bus Speed 4.8 GT/s QPI
Front-side bus (FSB) 1333 MHz
Number of QPI Links 1
VID voltage range 0.800V-1.375V

Memory

Supported memory types DDR3 DDR3 800/1066
Max memory channels 3
Maximum memory bandwidth 25.6 GB/s
Maximum memory size 24 GB

Compatibility

Max number of CPUs in a configuration 1 1
Sockets supported AM3 FCLGA1366
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 125 Watt 130 Watt
Low Halogen Options Available
Package Size 42.5mm x 45.0mm

Security & Reliability

Execute Disable Bit (EDB)
Intel® Trusted Execution technology (TXT)

Advanced Technologies

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep® technology
Idle States
Instruction set extensions Intel® SSE4.2
Intel 64
Intel® AES New Instructions
Intel® Demand Based Switching
Intel® Hyper-Threading technology
Intel® Turbo Boost technology
Physical Address Extensions (PAE) 36-bit
Thermal Monitoring

Virtualization

Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® VT-x with Extended Page Tables (EPT)